May the words that I speak be both spoken and received in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Today is the 2nd Sunday of Easter, also known as ‘Low Sunday’. This reminds me of a wonderful misquotation from a girl of what the Risen Lord had said to his disciples as he stood among them. She thought that he had said: “Glow, I am always with you.” Jesus however had said: “Low, I am always with you, to the end of time.”
“Glow, I am always with you”, what inspired words from the ‘Mouths of Babes’. The little girl has innocently taken and believed words of truth and reassurance given by our Lord, and she has transformed them into a present, active state to be in, as we go about our lives, believing and trusting in the living Christ, who rose from the dead.
To some people Jesus is an historical figure becoming lost and of diminishing importance in the antiquity of time. But for other people he is timeless; Christ is a living presence in their lives. The Risen Christ brings a glow into the lives of all those who turn to him, who trust in him and who obey him. Christ brings reassurance, joy and fulfilment into the lives of people, as they struggle against life’s trials and tribulations.
Christ was destined to die on the Cross as Saviour to atone for the sins of the world and to rise again from the dead – to bring life to the world. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Without the resurrection of Jesus the Church would have failed to grow. The life of the Risen Christ gives life to his Church, which is his body and he sustains it. The Church is the ‘Body of Christ’.
St Paul says clearly in his Letter to the Corinthians: “If Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain.” Knowing then that Christ was raised by God from the dead, then all those who are baptized and have faith in him can hope to be raised to eternal life.
It has been said that Christians don’t need to remember Jesus. We don’t need to remember him because according to James Denney, a Scotish theologian: “No apostle ever remembered Jesus.” They did not remember him because he was not dead, but alive, rejoining his followers and those who loved him. We don’t need to remember Jesus because we can and do experience the Risen Lord in our lives.
In today’s gospel reading we heard of how Jesus appears as the Risen Christ among his disciples, even though the doors were locked, for fear of the Jews. Nothing is mentioned about Jesus knocking on any doors, or being let in. But again, with the disciples’ experience of meeting with the Risen Lord, there is an important message.
Jesus said to them, ‘Peace be with you’ and then he said to them, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you”. Then he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit”. “If you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained”.
Of these resurrection appearance there are two important factors: 1) Firstly, the unusual way that the Risen Christ presents himself and his bodily form, or resurrected body. 2) And Secondly, the appearance have a reason, which is that of sending the disciples on a mission.
Like many other people I don’t think that the empty tomb is the prime factor of importance relating to Christ’s resurrection. What matters is that the Risen Lord makes his presence felt. Often bringing a spiritual cleansing, heart-warming, or peaceful experience to a person. Sometimes calling them by name and encouraging them towards a specific ministry, vocation, or service towards God and his people.
In today’s gospel reading we hear of how Jesus came and stood among his disciples and said, “Peace be with you.” Thomas missed out on a marvelous opportunity to meet his risen Lord. Perhaps he may have felt that it was pointless meeting with the other disciples for prayer as his Lord had gone. But he would rejoin them later when his deep sense of bereavement and disappointment and despair had subsided.
It was important that Thomas did meet the Risen Lord. He must not let his faith become a memory. Faith is best centred on the Risen Lord, and seeking his presence. Thomas should have been there to meet his Risen Lord. It would have resolved his doubts at least 8 days earlier. It is believed by some people that Thomas later evangelised in India.
Saul of Tarsus experienced the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus. He did not see Christ but experienced a blinding flash of light and heard his name being called. Christ told him that the Christians he was persecuting were his followers and he was asked why he was persecuting them. After suffering from blindness for a while, Saul then spent the rest of his life proclaiming the gospel to the gentiles, for that is what he felt called by Christ to do. It was a most remarkable ‘U’ turn in this life and he was then called St. Paul.
The Risen Lord changed the lives of his disciples who were locked in the room afraid of the Jews. Their fear left them and they were empowered by the Holy Spirit to spread the gospel throughout the world. This mission is still ongoing. We can follow their example by allowing God to change our lives.
Grant that we may follow the example of the patience and humility of Christ and also be made partakers of the resurrection. So let us walk with Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, whose fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Let us not forget the words of the young girl “Glow, I am always with you.”
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
St Peter's Church 